Bridcutt, of Brighton, vies with Abeid in the opening exchangesGLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images

Ron Lewis

Published at 12:01AM, January 7 2013

The fear is that the rot has set in at Newcastle United. When the dust settles
on their miserable FA Cup defeat away to Brighton & Hove Albion, the
panic could start as well.

An early exit from a competition that they were unlikely to win anyway is
probably the least of their worries. Newcastle fielded a weakened side
against their npower Championship hosts, but Alan Pardew, the manager,
admitted that it was not by choice.

Of the numerous absentees from the line-up, only Tim Krul, the goalkeeper, and
Sylvain Marveaux, who were both on the bench, were by choice.